Behind the Badge
When Julie Mueller started working for the Westminster Police Department, she hadn’t planned to work in law enforcement. That was nearly 20 years ago.
“I kind of stumbled upon it,” Mueller said. “I first started at the PD in dispatch and the shift work was great for raising my family. Then I moved to records for 15 years and held lead and senior roles in that bureau.”
For the past five years, she’s worked in the chief’s office in administration and is responsible for managing payroll.
Her current work in payroll involves data entry and keeping track of employee hours, as well as managing reports for the command staff, including overviews of salary expenditures.
“Just making sure all the hours are being documented properly,” she said. “I also make sure that everyone’s evaluations are in on time. I am the department’s liaison with human resources.”
Julie Mueller is an administrative assistant and a long time employee at the Westminster Police Department.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
She said her time in records has greatly helped her work in payroll because she got to know everyone at the agency.
Payroll was an easy transition for her.
“I knew a lot of inner workings that would be helpful for me to do the job,” Mueller said. “I also know the more than 150 employees that work here very well.”
She’s also made some changes in the time she has been working in payroll. When she first started in that department, paper timesheets were still being used alongside an electronic system.
“I was able to streamline the process,” she said. “We are no longer using paper timesheets.”
Not only is Mueller in charge of important documentation for WPD employees, but she also gives her time for charitable projects near and dear to her heart — such as Project S.H.U.E.
“I have four kids,” she said. “I’ve always told them, make sure you have enough money to live and have some left over to give, and if there is anything left, then you can get yourself something nice!”
Project S.H.U.E. is a program that helps at-risk first- and second-graders via mentoring and tutoring from volunteers at the Westminster Senior Center. For the holidays, Mueller helps coordinate the program with gift donations from WPD employees.
“We receive a Santa’s wish list from the kids of what they want, along with their picture and age,” she said. “Our PD employees are among some of the most generous people and the kids get picked quickly from the program.”
Each child receives a gift and a pair of shoes that are wrapped by their senior mentors and handed out during a holiday party at the local community center.
“Everyone who has participated is invited to the holiday party,” she said. “We try to make it a good turnout for the kids.”
Mueller also enjoys helping out in other ways.
“I have helped plan for Christmas parties and Annual Employees Appreciation Day party in the summer,” she said.
She’s enjoyed all of her work throughout the years and feels appreciated for what she does.
In 2012, Mueller received the Chief’s Award of Excellence for outstanding work ethic and commitment to the job. She was also awarded the Civilian of the Year Award, a nomination by peers, in 2015. As she nears her 20th anniversary in November, she looks forward to many more years to come.
“Over the last 20 years I have made some amazing friendships and have been able to help people. I care about the community I work in and look forward to several more years with this great group of people who serve it every day,” she said. “The civilian staff and officers in this department are among the best. We all work together to help one another and the community we work for.”
